V
PUMP
The Samford Progress Association’s free community newspaper printed continuously since 1977.
The ILLAGE
@TheVillagePumpSamford
“Your Community Newspaper, owned by the Samford Community and produced for the benefit of the Samford Community.” 29 SEPTEMBER 2023 P: 0477 663 696
E: editor@villagepump.org.au NEXT DEADLINE THURSDAY 05/10/2023
SAMFORD WELCOMES SCOUTS AND GIRL GUIDES Annual Agoonoree Scout Camp for Special Needs Youth Did you see the amazing tent city set-up in Baden Powell Park recently? It was the temporary home to more than 400 Scouts and Girl Guides who descended on the park for the annual Agoonoree Scout Camp - a weeklong, transformative experience for sixty young individuals with special needs, which commenced on 16 September. Agoonoree offers these campers the chance to embrace the Scout life, partaking in activities such as abseiling, pioneering, outdoor bush cooking and archery, all while immersing themselves in the Scout way of living. Locally, Agoonoree is affectionately known as a “feel-good tent city,” comprising over 130 tents, 3,200 tent pegs and over 3km of bunting. Operating for the past 42 years in Queensland, it faced disruptions due to Covid lockdowns in 2020. Young people with special needs travel from as far as Gladstone and Townsville, accompanied by able-bodied campers who are eager to assist their special needs counterparts. The camp provides Scouts and Girl Guides who are physically able, with a direct insight into the daily challenges faced by young people their own age. Agoonoree’s aim is to enhance awareness and provide education to young people on how to accommodate and support youth with special needs.
Chief Commissioner for Scouts Queensland, Geoff Doo, shared his thoughts, stating, “Agoonoree is an annual highlight for many young people on our calendar. It’s remarkable to see this event continue to captivate the youth of Queensland, stemming from its inception in 1979. The Queensland version of Agoonoree originated when Peter Blatch, Andrew Dufficy and I brought the concept back to Queensland, after visiting the 3rd Nippon Agoonoree in Japan. This is just one of the many exciting Adventurous, Fun, Challenging and Inclusive activities Scouting has to offer today’s youth.” Image: Agoonoree
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For many of the young people with special needs attending the camp, this marks their first time away from their parents and guardians, a significant step that can be intimidating. However, this camp not only offers a transformative experience for the campers but also provides much-needed respite for their families and caregivers. Throughout the week, Agoonoree functions as a self-contained mini city in Samford, complete with its own medical centre, onsite newspaper, radio station, and even an exclusive movie theatre night for the 400 campers. No camp is complete without food, with over 7,200 slices of bread, 4,800 eggs, more than 3,500 apples, plus over 2 tons of meat and poultry products to be consumed. In 2023, Agoonoree is taking significant steps to reduce its environmental impact by minimising general waste and transitioning to compostable options whenever possible. The camp continues to collaborate with local authorities to ensure its sustainability. The special needs campers owe their opportunity to the generous sponsorships from community groups such as Lions, Apex, Zonta, Trefoil Guilds and politicians at a Local, State and Federal level. Learn more: scoutsqld.com.au.